How to write a How-To book that people will read

This wonderful self-help book on teaching horsemanship to children with autism is a collaboration between Nacon Wilde and Mark Graham Communications.

This wonderful self-help book on teaching horsemanship to children with autism is a collaboration between Nacon Wilde and Mark Graham Communications.

There are many ways to write a book. Not all of them will achieve the success envisioned by the author. To make sure that your target market will get past the cover of your book and delve into its contents, here are a few tips from the experts.

Put some cats in danger. Not literally, of course. This refers to the old adage, “curiosity killed the cat”, and the timeless advice to writers to begin with a strong hook; one surefire way to keep readers turning your pages is to ask questions, directly or indirectly. If you can spark their curiosity, your readers will be compelled to read until they get some answers. You wanted to know what was going to happen to those cats, didn’t you?

Don’t waste time. People want to know how you can help them, so be straightforward with your details. The title of your book and the first paragraph are of the utmost importance. First impressions are everything. If you’re going to include any long, personal anecdotes, save them for later on in your book.

Pick a target audience. You can’t please everybody. If you use straightforward logic and don’t rely on emotion to convey your message, you’re going to appeal to a different crowd than if you talk about feelings and personal situations. You’re only going to lose readers by wavering back and forth, addressing separate factions, or attempting to include everybody.

Present clear, focused instructions. If your suggestions only serve to confuse your readers, they will not find your how-to manual very helpful. Be specific about action items, and make sure your readers understand all of the steps involved.

Strive for humor. People love humor. If you can manage to convey a sense of humor in your writing, your readers will keep going through the dullest or most detailed of topics. However, this can be a tricky strategy. It can be easy to unintentionally offend someone. Remember that not everyone agrees about humor, and that your hilarious ideas may fall flat with the wrong audience.